80 



NATURAL HISTORY 



There is another variety, much larger, found in blighted 

 wheat, described by Mr. Needham : they are obtained by 

 opening and immersing in water those blighted grains 

 which are externally covered by a black powder like 

 soot. They are distinguished from the other eels by a 

 row of diaphanous globules disposed along the body, re- 

 sembling the Vibrio serpentulus, and are of a chestnut- 

 brown colour. They are about l-30th of an inch in 

 length, and therefore only require a low magnifying 

 power to inspect them. (See Sir E. Home's Lectures 

 on Comparative Anatomy, which contain some valuable 

 information on this class of animalcules.) 



127. Vibrio marina. The salt-water Vibrio, — These 

 eels do not differ in any specific character from the 

 former, but are found in stagnated sea-water. Hence 

 they are not uncommonly procured from oysters, if the 

 water be examined when the lish is removed from the 

 shell. Of course it is necessary to take only such oysters 

 as have not been washed in fresh water. Their length 

 is about l-40th of an inch. See figure 57. 



128. Vibrio injiexa {Anguillula injlexa, E.) — New spe- 

 cies ; measures in length l-72d of an inch. 



129. Vibrio recticauda, {Anguillula recticauda, E.) — 

 This new species is probably allied to, if not indentical 

 with, the Vibrio coluber. Length, l-96th of an inch. 



